Author's Statement
I'm a first year History major and it was by chance that I attended Wangari Maathai's lecture over peace, democracy and the environment. One aspect I found particularly interesting was Maathai's quest not only to improve the environment, but also to empower women. I have learned that the low status of women in Kenya is the result of ideologies dating back to colonialism, but through programs like Maathai's Green Belt Movement change can be brought to these women as well as to other women in similar conditions around the globe.